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Mr Whittaker, of Bentinck Street in Ashton, has been charged with recklessly or negligently acting in a manner likely to endanger an aircraft or anyone on board, in accordance with Regulation 137 of the Air Navigation Order 2009.

He is due to appear before Trafford Magistrates’ Court on August 11.

Aviation experts say passengers are only at risk if both the inner and outer pane of an aircraft window are breached.

It is understood only the inner pane was cracked.

A spokeswoman for Thomson Airways declined to comment on the matter in detail because of the criminal charges, but added: ‘We do have a zero-tolerance approach on all our aircraft.

‘Passenger safety is our paramount priority.’

A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said: ‘At about 5.30am on May 25, 2014, police at the airport were informed by a member of the crew that a passenger on an inbound flight from Florida had struck an aircraft window, causing it to crack.